You may use cranberry extract supplements to help fight your urinary tract infection with your doctor's approval, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine notes. You also may use it to decrease burning sensations that may occur during urination, as well as to lessen pain associated with your bladder. Drugs.com states that cranberry may help you if you suffer from incontinence. Despite these medicinal uses, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has yet to approve cranberry extract supplements as medicine.
Nausea
The use of cranberry as an herbal or dietary supplement may produce mild nausea, especially upon early intake. It could make your stomach feel a bit "off," or it may produce full-scale nausea, meaning you may feel you need to throw up. This side effect typically occurs in a mild and temporary form, and should dissipate as you become used to the supplement. If, however, your nausea feels severe or lingers, seek guidance from your physician.
Kidney Stones
Ingesting cranberry extract supplements can cause an increase in chemicals known as oxalate that could raise the risk of developing kidney stones, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. This could cause people who already suffer from kidney stones to see their frequency increase. Because kidney stones can cause severe pain and could potentially damage your kidneys, bladder and urethra, seek the counsel of a physician before using cranberry extract, particularly if you are prone to this malady.
Bladder Infection
Although cranberry extract supplements may help you if you suffer from problems in your urinary tract, they also may produce bladder infections, Drugs.com states. A bladder infection may produce such symptoms as a decrease or stoppage of urination, pain of a severe nature in your stomach, burning or pain during urination and hematuria, a condition in which you produce blood in your urine. Consult your physician immediately if you have any symptoms of a bladder infection. Drugs.com also recommends ceasing the use of cranberry.
Blood Thinning
Cranberry may increase the therapeutic effects of warfarin, a medication prescribed to help reduce blood clotting. Doctors generally prescribe warfarin for people at risk of blood clots that could cause strokes or heart attacks. Because cranberry extract can produce blood thinning effects similar to warfarin, the use of the supplement and the medication together is unwise. You put yourself at risk of bruising and bleeding by using cranberry extract with warfarin. If you take warfarin, query your doctor about the use of cranberry extract before taking it.
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